I have just been reading Bernard Cornwell's latest 'The Fort' which takes place in the American Revolution, and I wondered about writing a book about what might have been if this revolution had not happened.
I suppose that I would start the book about 1779, when the provinces and The United Kingdom came to an agreement. Do I start it at about the time of the Boston Tea Party or before?
The agreement – The Americas stays British, and becomes one country/state incorporating everything from Florida/Texas to the Arctic Ocean. Where would I place the Capital City – Boston perhaps, because it needs river access. Or Montreal, because it is further inland, yet still has river access – No -The St. Lawrence freezes over.
The French and Spanish declaring War on Britain to side with the colonies would not happen. (Investigate history further.)
Discuss the removal of the french from the Americas, and agreements with the Spanish over the west coast.
1785 Americas sends MP's to Parliament?
For the sake of simplicity, keep the states and provinces as they are, and eventually each one sends an MP to Westminster.
The Battle of Trafalgar will not happen. How does Nelson occupy himself?
1860 ish Isambard Kingdom Brunel visits america, likes what he sees, and builds a railway, builds other great things?
1867 - Does Russia sell Alaska to The United Kingdom?
Treatment of the Indians. Judging by what happened in Canada anyway, no change there.
Most of 19th Century is peaceful. The slavery question is resolved much as it is in Jamaica (The Long Song), except that there are some ructions as Blacks seek free land.
20th century – WW1 is a short blip, as Americans join in, landing at western beaches in France, and circling the German Army. ( Not really relevant?)
Irish question resolved – Does it even blow up, or is the UK much more accepting of the differences.
1975 - Her Majesty opens another royal castle, this time in Kentucky, and sells off Sandringham.
1988 - After much Petitioning, Parliament moves to Boston, as that is a reasonable central point for the people of the United Kingdom. Boston is one of America's oldest cities and therefore has a claim to be the new home of the Mother of Parliaments. The America's has a population of 350 million, the islands of England etc barely 60Million. Discuss the relationship of the United Kingdom with the EU.
Many American Authors have different tacks – Last of the Mohicans for example.
Books to think about in writing this – New York, by Rutherfurd
Thanks to Wikipedia as a reference to find out rough information.
If I was to try and write it, I would have to have a list of basic characters, probably most from the military, And have a chapter for every fifth year to show the development. (Or other notable date)
I can't do it myself, I don't have the time to do all the research. Anyone want to help?
Sunday 31 October 2010
Sunday 17 October 2010
One man can do so much, and another do so little
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenon
I have just read a tremendous book that makes us all feel that we haven't done enough with our lives when we see how this young man has helped so many. Greg gets lost after trying to climb K2, gets rescued and ends up in Pakistan Village. He promises to build them a school. This book tells the trials of dealing in Pakistan to build the school, then how he goes on to raise money and build more, creating a foundation to continue the work. Each school only costs about $12,000 because the village donates the land and the labour. It is an excellent story of one man, with a few friends, starting something that gives him a focus for his life, and helping so many others. I visited the site of the Central Asia Institute and saw how many more schools, principally for girls, that he has built since this book. It shows a much nicer face of Muslim people and I can only believe more truthful, than we see in the news every day. It gives me great pleasure in retrospect for the teaching of the two young Pakistani women on the top-up course at University.
What spoils it all was the item in the news last week that there are three presidents of countries in the world who are billionaires, and the president of Pakistan is one. Why should it be necessary for the likes of a lone American to have to do so much for the underprivileged of these other countries, while their 'upper class' ignores them?
I have just read a tremendous book that makes us all feel that we haven't done enough with our lives when we see how this young man has helped so many. Greg gets lost after trying to climb K2, gets rescued and ends up in Pakistan Village. He promises to build them a school. This book tells the trials of dealing in Pakistan to build the school, then how he goes on to raise money and build more, creating a foundation to continue the work. Each school only costs about $12,000 because the village donates the land and the labour. It is an excellent story of one man, with a few friends, starting something that gives him a focus for his life, and helping so many others. I visited the site of the Central Asia Institute and saw how many more schools, principally for girls, that he has built since this book. It shows a much nicer face of Muslim people and I can only believe more truthful, than we see in the news every day. It gives me great pleasure in retrospect for the teaching of the two young Pakistani women on the top-up course at University.
What spoils it all was the item in the news last week that there are three presidents of countries in the world who are billionaires, and the president of Pakistan is one. Why should it be necessary for the likes of a lone American to have to do so much for the underprivileged of these other countries, while their 'upper class' ignores them?
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